AP Govt rescues 16,300 child workers: Minister

Hyderabad, Jun 16 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Labour Minister G Vinod today said his department had rescued 16,300 child workers and ensured the release of Rs 1.75 crore as compensation to them this year.

He told mediapersons here that the International Labour Organisation, through a survey, had identified that 13 lakh children were forced to work in various fields, including shops and establishments.

The Government was striving its best to send them back to schools after imparting education in bridge schools, he added.

The Minister, who had been nominated by the Union Labour Ministry to represent the country in the recent ILO conference in Geneva, said he highlighted the large number of welfare schemes initiated by the Congress Government for the development of eight crore people in the State.